Missing woman found deceased

Monday

Aug 26, 2013 at 11:20 AM

Hunters come across body in the Klamath River area

Daily News Staff

YREKA – The four-day search for missing Yreka resident Sally Ann Nolan came to a tragic end Saturday morning. Nolan was located deceased in the Klamath River area by hunters and members of the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department, though the investigation did not reveal any indication of criminal activity, stated a press release issued by the department.

The sheriff’s office Search and Rescue (SAR) Team searched for Nolan, 78, for several days after she was reported missing Tuesday, Aug. 20.

She was last seen leaving a residence in the vicinity of Lumgrey Creek and State Route 96, an area near the Klamath River northwest of Yreka, on Monday Aug. 19. She was traveling in a 2000 Chevrolet Malibu sedan.

SAR team members and numerous personnel from several agencies searched the Klamath River area, including roads, creeks and ravines in rugged terrain in the surrounding area where she was last seen. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) also made several flights over water and land areas in hope of locating Nolan.

The SAR team enlisted the aid of numerous agencies and organizations during its search, including the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Posse, CHP (H-16), California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office SAR, United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers, Klamath County Sheriff’s Office (Oregon) SAR, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (Oregon) SAR and Brim Aviation.

According to on-scene SAR searchers, on Saturday morning, hunters observed Nolan’s body lying on a logging road northwest of the Cottonwood Peak area near Jilson Mine Road. Forest service and wildlife service personnel, along with Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office investigators, responded to the scene to assess the situation and investigate the circumstances surrounding Nolan’s death.

Lopey commented, “It is always a sad day when a search and rescue operation does not result in the successful rescue of a lost citizen. On behalf of the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and the many organizations participating in this rescue effort, I’d like to offer our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers to Ms. Nolan’s family and friends. The investigation at the scene of the recovery did not reveal any indication of criminal activity, but Ms. Nolan’s death is still under investigation.”

Lopey stated that an autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death.Nolan was a longtime substitute teacher and teacher’s aide at Gold Street School in Yreka. She was also a longtime business owner and operator. She co-owned Nolan Litho & Printing in Yreka for several years.

Citizens who have not already been interviewed by the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office with knowledge of Nolan’s whereabouts or activities between Monday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 24, are asked to contact the sheriff’s department’s 24-hour dispatch number at (530) 841-2900.

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